From biotech financing to new drugs, from single-cell biology to advanced models for drug discovery: what were the most-read articles in Nature Biotechnology in 2024? Here is the ranking of the ten publications that captured the interest of the scientific and industrial community the most.
1. Biotech financing: darkest before the dawn
The biotech sector has faced a critical phase, with declining investments and economic uncertainty. This article analyzes the causes of the crisis and the forecasts for recovery, highlighting key strategies for biotech companies in an increasingly competitive market.
2. The world’s first CRISPR therapy is approved: who will receive it?
A historic moment for genetic medicine: the first CRISPR-based therapy has received regulatory approval. The article discusses accessibility, costs, and ethical implications surrounding the distribution of this revolutionary treatment.
3. After obesity drugs’ success, companies rush to preserve skeletal muscle
With the surge of anti-obesity drugs, the focus is now shifting to muscle mass preservation. New therapies are emerging to combat sarcopenia and improve patients’ quality of life.
4. Cancer-targeting antibody-drug conjugates drive dealmaking frenzy
Pharmaceutical companies are heavily investing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which directly target cancer cells, increasing therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects.
5. TCR cell therapies vanquish solid tumors — finally
A breakthrough in the fight against solid tumors: T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies show extraordinary results in clinical trials, opening new perspectives for cancer patients.
6. Can single-cell biology realize the promise of precision medicine?
Single-cell technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of diseases and personalized medicine. This article explores how these tools could lead to increasingly targeted treatments.
7. Foundation models build on ChatGPT tech to learn the fundamental language of biology
Artificial intelligence meets biology: models inspired by ChatGPT are being trained to analyze vast biological datasets, accelerating drug discovery and biomarker identification.
8. CAR-Ts sweep into autoimmunity
No longer just for oncology: CAR-T therapies show promising results in treating autoimmune diseases, opening a new frontier for these powerful personalized treatments.
9. A new class of mRNA drugs targets poison exons
mRNA is not just for vaccines: a new class of drugs leverages this technology to eliminate “poison exons,” offering potential cures for rare genetic and neurodegenerative diseases.
10. Biotechs take multiplexing into animal models to accelerate drug discovery
New multiplexing methods allow for the simultaneous testing of multiple drugs in animal models, reducing the time and cost of drug development and bringing treatments to patients faster.